Wheel disk and wheel assembly



April 1941- GLA. LYON 2,239,366

WHEEL DISK min WHEEL ASSEMBLY Original Filed Dec. 17, 1934 2sheetsrsfieet 1 -April 22, 1 941. A. LYON WHEEL DISK AND WHEEL ASSEMBLYOriginal Filed Dec. 17, 1934 2 Sheets sheet 2 MEU Patented Apr. 1941 p2,239,366 WHEEL DISK AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY George Albert Lyon, Allenlmrst,N. .1. Original application December 1'1, 1934, Serial No.

1939, Serial No. 269,619

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in an ornamental wheel disk, andmore particularly to an ornamental disk for attachment to the sidesurface of a vehicle wheel within the rim of the wheel to override theouter side surface of the disk or spoke portion of the wheel. Theinvention further relates to an ornamental disk and wheel structurewherein the retaining engagement between the wheel and disk is adjacentto or a little inside of the wheel rim.

This application is a division of my co-pending application entitledOrnamental wheel discs, U. S. Serial 757,781, filed December 17, 1934,now Patent No. 2,157,960.

It is an object of this invention to provide an omament-al disk ofrelatively thin sheet material and having an external surface finishedor configurated in substantially any desired manner to harmonize withthe other structure and adornments of a vehicle, which disk element iseconomical and expeditious to manufacture and may be associated with thewheel in a very ready manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a 7 disk adapted to besnapped axially into springretained engagement with an outer side of thewheel and which structure includes concealed spring elements adapted toadjust the disk to slight manufacturing tolerances allowed in themanufacture of the wheel.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an ornamental diskwhich may be positioned upon a wheel to cover the outer side surface ofthe wheel inside the outer edge of the rim, with the engagement meansbetween the disk and the wheel adjacent the rim, and wherein the diskmay he made to include as an integral part thereof the equivalent of ahub cap, in which instance the disk is removable from the wheel or, ifdesired, the wheel may be made so as not to include the equivalent of ahub cap portion.

It is also an object of this invention .to provide an ornamental disk ofthe character described herein which may or may not be equipped with acushioning or yieldable member for contact with the rim of the vehiclewheel as may be desired.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new ornamentaldisk and wheel structure, the engagement between these parts beingadjacent the rim of the wheel.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an ornamental disk fordisposition over the surface of a. vehicle wheel inside of the outeredge of the rim of the wheel, which disk incorporates as Cir Divided andthis application April 24,

a part thereof yieldable means for contact with the wheel rim.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, wherein thedisk covers the entire outer side surface of the wheel inside the rimand the holding means for the disk are carried by the central supportingportion of the wheel;

Figure 2 is an inside elevational view of the disk shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view, similar to Figure 1, but showinga different construction of disk held on the wheel by means carried bythe central supporting portion of the wheel;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the lineIV-IV of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a still different formof disk construction, held upon the wheel by means carried by thecentral supporting portion of the wheel; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary inside elevational view of theportion of the disk shown in Figure 5.

I have illustrated in the above mentioned drawings three modificationsof my invention, in each of which I have provided an ornamental disk andwheel structure and which disk is adapted to be snap ed or pressedaxially into retaining-engagement with the wheel so as to be held inplace on the wheel by means concealed by the disk.

In the first form of my invention which is illustrated in Figures 1 and2 of the drawings, there is shown a wheel having the conventionallyshaped drop center rim l0 and a body part ll which is provided with anaxially outwardly extending peripheral flange l2. The rim l0, as

shown, includes a base flange 13, side flanges it, intermediate flangesi5, and edge portions iii. The base flange l 3 of the rim I0 is securedto the axially outwardly extending peripheral flange I2 of the body partII in any suitable manner, such as by riveting or welding.

At a'suflicient distance radially inwardly of the flange 12 to leave agroove-like pocket i'l adjacent this flange, the body part is providedwith a plurality of outwardly arced portions iii in simulation ofspokes. The body part Ii of the wheel is also providedwith a radialfastening flange I9 at its center portion offset inwardly towards themedian vertical plane of the wheel,

the fastening flange having the usual hub open ing 20 in the centerthereof. As is clearly shown in Figure .1, the flange I3 is providedwith a plurality of apertures 2i for the accommodation of a series offastening bolts 22 by means of which the wheel may be attached to anaxle part 23 having associated therewith the usual brake drum 24.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, Ihave showna disk 25, which, of necessity, must be removable from the wheel in aready manner because the disk is made to cover the entire side surfaceof the body part of the wheel together with a portion of the rim,including the hub opening. The outer periphery of the disk 25 isprovided with a reversed bend 26 which contacts with the rim Ill. Theouter marginal portion of the disk 25 curves inwardly from the bend 26beneath the base l3 of the rim l and terminates in an outwardly bentannular flange 21, this flange being recessed or notched at spacedintervals as indicated at 28, for the accommodation of attaching means.As may be seen best in Figure 2, the reversely bent portion 26 of thedisk 25 is provided with a suitable notch 29 through which the valvestem (not shown) may extend. a

The attaching means for the disk 25 in this embodiment of the presentinvention are carried by the body parts ll oi the wheel and comprise aseries of spring clips 30 having inwardly bent or hooked ends 3i. Thespring clips 30, which are of the size to fit within the notches 28 inthe disk 25, also comprise an inwardly turned base portion 32 secured tothe body part of the wheel in any desired manner, such, for example, asby rivets 33. The spring clips 30 are preferably seated in thegroove-like pockets ll of the body parts II which brings the clipsimmediately adjacent the rim of the wheel.

In mounting the disk 25 upon the wheel, it is a simple expedient topress the disk axially into engagement with the spring clips. Thecontacting surfaces of the spring clips slope inwardly and downwardly sothat any jarring of the disk and wheel only results in a more positiveengagement. Accordingly, the disk is firmly secured to the wheel. If sodesired, a cushioning or yieldable contact means may be provided betweenthe disk and wheel rim, as will presently be apparent from a discussionof the other two illustrated embodiments of the present invention. Toremove the disk from the wheel, it is a simple expedient to insert aprying tool between the bend 26 and the rim, and by fulcruming the toolagainst the outer portion of the intermediate flange l of the rim (inwhich position the tool will not contact the tire upon the rim), thedisk may be readily pried-off the rim.

In connection with the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1and 2, it should also be noted that between the bend 26 and the flange21 the disk is provided with an inwardly extending portion 34 whichtelescopes within the base I3 of the rim I0 and preferably contacts therim in this region therearound. Such engagement with the rim aids inpositioning the disk upon the wheel and also adds to the rigidity ofretention of the disk.

In Figures 3 and 4 I have shown another form of disk attached to a wheelof the same construction as that illustrated in Figure 1. In thisinstance, the disk 35 may cover the entire outer side surface of thebody part of the wheel, or it 5 may be in the form of an annulus theintermarginal edge of which is supported on a radial inner portion ofthe body part II of the wheel (such, for example, as is illustrated anddescribed in my co-pending application Serial 757,781, filed December17, 1934, and from which this application has been divided). The outermarginal portion of the disk 35 is curved inwardly as at 36, to providean undercut groove in which a cushioning or yieldable member 31 isseated. This member 31 is preferably of the form shown in Figure 3wherein the cross sectional configuration of the cushioning member is inthe form of a figure eight.

0n the inner side of the disk 35 there is provided a series of engagingmembers 38 for cooperation with the spring clips 38 which are carried onthe body parts ll of the wheel to hold the disk in position on thewheel. Each of the engaging members 38 has a tail portion 39 welded orotherwise secured to the disk 35. The inner end of each of the engagingmembers 38 is bent inwardly and outwardly, as at 40-, and notched, as at4| (Figure 4) spring clips 30. The disk 35 may be mounted upon andremoved from the disk in the same manner as the disk shown in Figures 1and 2, the central portions of the engaging members 38 telescoping withthe undersurface of the base l3 of the rim H).

In Figures 5 and 6, I-have shown another disk structure associated witha. wheel of the same type as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. In thisinstance, a disk 42 is provided with an inwardly turned outer periphery43, and a set of engaging elements 44 are provided, each of which in.cludes a portion 45 shaped in conformity with the disk and extendingbeneath the turned periphery 43. This tail portion 45 of the engagingelement 44 is welded or otherwise secured to the disk. Each engagingelement 44 also has a portion 46 which is likewise secured to the diskat a point spaced below the portion 45. The central portion of eachengaging element 44 extends inwardly for telescopic association with thebase i3 of the rim l0 and then arcs downwardly to merge into the portion46, the arcuate part being apertured or not, as at 41, to accommodate aspring clip 30 which is carried on the body part H of the wheel. In thehorizontally extending portion thereof each engaging member 44 has acushioning element 48 in the form of a button, preferably of liverubber, extending through a suitable aperture in the engaging member andhaving an expanded lower end 49 to hold the button in position. Thesebuttons afiord cushioning or yieldable contact with the rim and tend toeliminate unwelcome noises.

The mounting and removal of the disk 42 is the same as that of the disk35 shown in Figures 3 and 4.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will, ofcourse, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, sincemany modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by theappended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of my invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In combination, an automobile wheel in- V eluding rim and body parts,said wheel having a radially inwardly to the juncture of said rim andbody parts and having attaching means thereon in close proximity to saidshoulder, and a circular cover memfor reception of one of the facingshoulder in proximity her of relatively thin metallic sheet material fordisposition over a part of said wheel, the outer margin of said covermember having a portion connected thereto and extending along saidmember and then axially rearwardly forming a 5 flange portion forintimate telescopic engagement with said shoulder, a rearward part ofsaid flange portion being bent obliquely axially outwardly and radiallyinwardly for snap-on engagement with said attaching means on said to thejuncture of said rimand body parts and having attaching means thereon inclose proximity to said shoulder, and a circular cover member ofrelatively thin metallic sheet material for disposition over a part ofsaid wheel, the outer margin of said cover member having a portionconnected thereto'and extending along said member and then axiallyrearwardly forming a flange portion for intimate telescopic engagementwith said shoulder, a rearward part of said flange portion being bentobliquely axially outwardly and radially inwardly and being apertured,said attaching means on said wheel including an axially outwardlyextending spring flnger for engagement with the rearward part of saidflange portion of said member within an aperture of said rearward part.

3. In combination, an automobile wheel including rim and body parts,said wheel, having a radially inwardly facing shoulder in proximity tothe juncture of said rim and body parts and having a plurality ofresilient attaching elements extending axially outwardly in closeproximity to said shoulder, and a circular cover member of relativelythin metallic sheet material for disposition over a part of said wheel,said cover member being provided with a plurality of axially rearwardlyextending generally U-shaped strap elements each of said U-shaped strapelements including a leg portion arranged to telescopically engage saidshoulder and a second leg portion having an aperture therein throughwhich a resilient attaching element extends for holding said covermember in snap-on engagement on said wheel.

4. In combination, an automobile wheel including rim and body parts,said wheel having a radially inwardly facing shoulder in proximity tothe juncture of said rim and body parts and having a plurality ofresilient attaching elements extending axially outwardly in closeproximity to said shoulder, and a circular cover member of relativelythin metallic sheet material for disposition over a part of said wheel,said cover member being provided with a plurality of axially rearwardlyextending generally U-shaped strap elements each of said U-shaped strapelements including a leg portion arranged to telescopically engage saidshoulder and a second leg portion having an aperture therein throughwhich a resilient attaching element extends for holding said covermember in snap-on engagement on said wheel, said leg portion whichtelescopically en- Sages said shoulder on each strap element hav ingarranged thereover a wheel-engaging button element of resilient materialfor engaging said wheel.

5. In combination, an automobile wheel including rim and'body parts,said wheel having.

a radially inwardly facing shoulder in proximity to the juncture of saidrim and body parts and having a plurality of resilient attachingelements extending axially outwardly in close-proximity to saidshoulder, and a circular cover member of relatively thin metallic sheetmaterial for disposition over a part of said wheel, said cover memberbeing provided with a pluralitjy oi axially rearwardly extendingelements arranged to telescopically engage said shoulder and todetachably interengage with a resilient attaching element on said wheel,each of said axially rearwardly extending elements on said cover memberhaving a tail portion extending generally radially outwardly along saidcover member and intimately overlying and contacting the rear face ofsaid coverv member and secured thereto.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

